Shutaf, which means “partner” in Hebrew, is a Jerusalem-based program for children and teens with special needs that is committed to a new kind of inclusion-based programming. 75% children with special needs and 25% typically developing children. Camper groups are of mixed ages, abilities and disabilities and come from all backgrounds. It is this inclusion that fosters a change in attitude towards the special needs population. Shutaf camps operate during Chanukah, Passover and summer vacations and serves more than 120 children and teenagers. Additionally they have an after school program that meets on Thursday afternoons. HOT has been a Shutaf sponsor since 2007, giving scholarships to families that could not otherwise afford sending their children to “camp.”
Miriam, the mother of a special needs child, and co-founder of Shutaf, recently wrote to me:
Preparation for adulthood is a rapidly expanding program area at Shutaf. Children who joined our program at its inception, along with new participants who are desperate for social outlets, are now in their early teens. Shutaf’s Young Leadership program for teens responds to their changing developmental needs, helping them build the skills, self-belief and self-esteem needed to prepare for successful adulthood. This group benefits from an age-appropriate program along with positive inclusion opportunities with their peers, part of Shutaf’s mission to break down barriers, reducing the marginalization of young people with disabilities, an important social justice issue within the greater community.
We are very proud of Miriam and Beth (her co founder and also the mother of a special needs child) who had a dream and have made it into a reality. When we first met them we funded summer camp scholarships, then Chanukah camp scholarships and then Passover camp scholarships. We told them from the beginning that we expected them to replace our funding and they have managed to both grow and replace the bulk of our earlier commitments. This summer we gave them a $6,800 grant to cover a new teen camp. When they read this copy of the HOT News they will be hearing for the first time that we have decided to increase the financial aid for this year to up to $17,500 (inclusive of the $9,000 already in their budget) to, we hope, cover the financial aid to cover teen camps for both Chanukah and Passover.
In addition we would like to expand their programming and are asking our donors to designate gifts to help them start new programs.
They need:
$3,900: Outdoor Adventures for children and teens with special needs – monthly hiking and nature outings for 25 children involved in the after-school program
$8,800: Self-Defense Course for children and teens with special needs – year-round self-defense course for 25 children involved in the after-school program and self-defense courses for all campers during the five weeks of Shutaf camps
- $16,500: Young Teen Workshop – The young teens with special needs will create, package and sell four products during the year programs – learning vocational skills within a supportive and friendly environment. While in Israel last month HOT committed to a grant of $8,250 pending receipt of a business plan and firmed up cost estimate for doing two rather than 4 of the products. Any donor who is interested in helping teens with disabilities learn skills that could be used for them to live productively when they are older, PLEASE contact HOT and we will give you the status of this project (which is intended to run during the school year).
And, yes Miriam and Beth, that means from September 2011 to August 2012 we have, subject to review of your business plan for the Teen Workshops, approved grants of $25,250 and asked our donors to designate $20,950 beyond that. The two of you have created an incredible program and HOT is proud to be a part of it.